CIA: Bin Laden tape likely authentic

WASHINGTON

The Central Intelligence Agency has determined that a new audiotape obtained earlier his week is likely an authentic recording of Osama bin Laden, a U.S. intelligence official said yesterday.

The audiotape exhorts Muslims to rise up against Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain and Afghanistan, which it claims are "agents of America," and calls for suicide attacks against U.S. and British interests to "avenge the innocent children" of Iraq.

CIA analysts, after listening to the audio, were fairly certain the voice was bin Laden's, according to the intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The agency analyzed a brief excerpt from the tape after The Associated Press and other news organizations sought to authenticate whether the speaker was that of the terrorist leader.

There was also no clear indication of when the recording was made. It refers to the outbreak of war in Iraq, so officials suspect it was a recent recording. However, the references are so general that it is conceivable it was recorded before the war, the official said.

The 27-minute tape quotes extensively from the Muslim holy book, the Quran, and says jihad, or holy war in this context, is the "only solution to all the problems."

The tape was obtained Monday by The Associated Press from an Algerian national, known as Aadil, who said he had slipped across the border from Afghanistan, where the tape was apparently recorded.

The message focused exclusively on suicide attacks, unlike many of bin Laden's previous messages, which bore many themes.

"Do not be afraid of their tanks and armored personnel carriers. These are artificial things," he said. "If you started suicide attacks you will see the fear of Americans all over the world. Those people who cannot join forces in jihad should give financial help to those mujahedeen who are fighting against U.S. aggression."

"The United States has attacked Iraq and soon he will also attack Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Sudan. The attacks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt will be against Islamic movements there," the speaker says.

House OKs oil drilling in Alaska refuge

WASHINGTON

The House last night endorsed oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge, setting up a likely confrontation with the Senate as Congress struggles to produce a comprehensive energy policy.

An attempt to strip a House energy bill of a provision that would allow development of the refuge's oil was turned back by a 228-197 vote. Drilling opponents argued more oil could be saved with higher auto fuel economy requirements than the refuge could produce.

Earlier, the House rejected a proposal to require a 5 percent reduction in fuel used by motor vehicles, including SUVs and pickup trucks, within seven years. Opponents to the measure said it would force automakers to make small cars.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), sponsor of the anti-drilling amendment, criticized the bill, saying if lawmakers are unwilling to improve auto fuel economy, "we have no right to jeopardize a pristine wilderness that should be preserved for the next generation," he said.

But Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) said those who argue against developing the refuge's oil don't have the facts.

China criticized for moving SARS patient

HONG KONG

A new accusation against mainland China collapsed yesterday when the family of an American dying from a mysterious respiratory virus confirmed that they had requested he be moved from a mainland hospital to one in Hong Kong.

Officials from the mainland - already criticized for their secretive handling of the fast-spreading SARS virus - had been accused of moving the American to avoid another foreign death.

And Hong Kong's health secretary said James Salisbury, a 52-year-old instructor from Utah, was already dead when he arrived in Hong Kong Wednesday. But Salisbury's eldest daughter in Utah confirmed what Chinese health authorities had said all along.

"We heard the hospital in Hong Kong had specialists that were treating people with SARS and we thought there might be other things that could be done to help him get better," said Michelle Salisbury of Orem, Utah.

She said Salisbury's parents had ordered the change in hospitals and that they were taking advice from a doctor on staff with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in China. She said that doctor had spoken to the physicians at the hospital in Shenzhen, China, and in Hong Kong.

The family knew there was a chance the three-hour ambulance ride between hospitals was risky, she said, but it was a risk the family was willing to take. Ms. Salisbury said he died of a heart attack in route to Hong Kong.